Electric train-wire coupling



March 24, 1331. c. c. FARMER 1,797,408

ELECTRIC TRAIN WIRE COUPLINQ Filed Oct. 16 1925 ml ,7 7 Z// I /o INVENTOR CLYDE QFARMER ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 24, 1931 UNITED, STATES PATENT oFF cE- CLYDE C. FARMER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORbTO THE WESTING- HOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, OF WILMERDING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA ELECTRIC TRAIN-WIRE COUPLING Application filed October 16, 1925. Serial No. 62,827.

This invention relates to couplers and more particularly to an electric train line coupling.

In the operation of automatic train line couplers of the type shown in my prior pending application, Serial No. 568,245, filed June 14, 1922, where a movable contact carrier is projected by the operation of tappets upon ing insulation.

the coming together of counterpart couplers, it has been found that in some cases, if cars come together at a high rate of speed, the contact carrier isliable to be shot forward so suddenly that the momentum may cause the carrier to overtravel, so that'there is a possibility that the cont-act may become interlocked with the contacts of the counterpart coupler with consequent danger of amming and breaking the contacts and the surround- The principal object of my invention is to provide means for preventing overtravel of the contact carrier and consequent 1njury to the contacts. s V In the accompanying drawing, the single figure is a sectional viewof an electric train line coupler head with my invention applied thereto.

As shown in the drawing, the coupler head may comprise a casing 1 containing a movable contact carrier 2, which includes a casing 3 and is provided with contacts 4. adapted when the carrier is projected to engage corresponding contacts of a counterpart coupler head, thereby completlng the tram line circuits. The contact carrier 2 also includes a-frame 5, which is secured to the casing 3 by means of bolts 6, said contact carrier being adapted to be pro ected by force stored up through movement of a push rod 7 by 11npact with a meeting face ofthe counterpart coupler, as in my pending applicationhereinbefore referred to.

According to my invention a cushion gasket 8 of yielding material, such as rubber, is applied to frame 5 by means of a plurality 7f rivets9, holes being provided in said gasket to receive said rivets, and since the gasket I is made of yielding material, the holes may be stretched, so that the gasket can be applied over the heads of said rivets.

In operation, when the contact carrier 2;is

automatically projected to complete the train line circuits, the gasket 8 engages a face 10 of the casing l'so as to prevent overtravel of the contact carrier and consequent possible damage of the contacts.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 2- 1. An electric trainline coupler compris-' ing a casing, a relatively movable contact car.- rier mounted in said caslngand having contactsadapted to but-t against corresponding contacts of a counterpart fcarrier, and af cushion member of yielding material carried by said carrier and adapted to engage the casing upon pr0 ect1on of the contact carrier and thereby yicldingly limit, the outward ion and sufliciently firm toact as a stop travel of said carrier, said cushion member 2. An electric train line. coupler compris- 1 ing a casing, a relatively movable contact carrier mounted in said casing and having contacts adapted to butt against correspondingcontacts of a counterpart carrier, and a gasket of yielding material secured to said 2 contact carrier and adapted to engage a meet ing face on said casinglupon projection of the contact carrier and thereby yieldingly limit the outward travel of said carrier, said gasket being'formed of material suificiently yielding to provide the desired-cushioning I effect and sufficiently firmto act as a stop.

3. An electric train line coupler comprising a casing, a relatively movable contact carrier mounted in Saidcasing and having contacts adapted-to'butt against corresponding contacts ofa counterpart carrier, and a resilient cushion member securedto said con-' tact member and adapted to-engage a face on said casing upon projection ofthe contact carrier and'thereby yieldingly limit theoutward travel of saidcarrier, said cushion member being so constructed that the member actsas adefinite stop after a predetermined compression of the member. I

In testimony whereof I havehereuntoset my hand. s

CLYDE'QC FARMER. 

